Lucky Luke is a Western comics series created by Belgian cartoonist Morris in 1946. Morris wrote and drew the series single-handedly until 1955, after which he started collaborating with René Goscinny, Astérix creator, a partnership that lasted until his death, in 1977. Afterwards, he collaborated with several other writers, until his own death, in 2001. French artist Achdé has drawn the series since Morris's death, also with the help of other writers. The series takes place in the American Old West and stars the titular Lucky Luke, a gunslinger known as the "man who shoots faster than his shadow", and his intelligent horse Jolly Jumper. Lucky Luke is pitted against various villains, either fictional or inspired by American history or folklore. The most famous of these are the Dalton Brothers. The stories are filled with humorous elements parodying the Western genre.